Path to the CFP?

[IrishLax]

Ok let’s ride this momentum into the playoffs. You know what’s funny. If we got in the playoffs Kelly probably stays and Freeman leaves. Because of being on the outside atm Kelly leaves, Freeman is hired as HC and everyone is loving this move. Now let’s get in.

I think this is accurate. Freeman had just days ago been offered the Duke HC job and if shit hadn't gone down how it did, when it did I think he might've taken it. Or taken another HC opening that popped up.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I think this is accurate. Freeman had just days ago been offered the Duke HC job and if shit hadn't gone down how it did, when it did I think he might've taken it. Or taken another HC opening that popped up.

Couldn't he have set his sights much higher than Duke?

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I think this is accurate. Freeman had just days ago been offered the Duke HC job and if shit hadn't gone down how it did, when it did I think he might've taken it. Or taken another HC opening that popped up.

Which would have left Kelly in a pickle. The 2022 and 2023 classes would have fallen apart. No way Kelly could have replaced Freeman with anyone his equal this year with all the head coaching vacancies.

 

[Irish#1]

I've wondered this since Kelly left. Had we beat Cincy and were sitting at #2, would Kelly have left?

I mean, LSU has better players, facilities, and fans, but who knows?

On his interview with Dan Patrick, he said he couldn't answer that question.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Brett McMurphy's current bowl projection is ND vs Sparty in the Fiesta Bowl. That would be sweet (and oh so painful for Sparty).

 

[arahop]

If Georgia beats Bama one of OK st, Michigan, or Cincy will lose.
I Like our chances. Lots of craziness happens when teams feel the pressure of win or go home.
Michigan,OK st, Cincinnati don't know what that feels like,
One or more of those teams will fold to that pressure.
Irish going to the dance if I was a betting man.

 

[ACamp1900]

If Georgia beats Bama one of OK st, Michigan, or Cincy will lose.
I Like our chances. Lots of craziness happens when teams feel the pressure of win or go home.
Michigan,OK st, Cincinnati don't know what that feels like,
One or more of those teams will fold to that pressure.
Irish going to the dance if I was a betting man.

Yep, if I had to bet we go to the playoff,... almost certainly against UGA while scUM gets UC......... Come on Iowa.

 

[NDPhilly]

Brett McMurphy's current bowl projection is ND vs Sparty in the Fiesta Bowl. That would be sweet (and oh so painful for Sparty).

Anyone but Bama / OSU

 

[IrishLax]

Which would have left Kelly in a pickle. The 2022 and 2023 classes would have fallen apart. No way Kelly could have replaced Freeman with anyone his equal this year with all the head coaching vacancies.

Agreed 100%. One of the truest knocks on BK is that he was only as good as his coordinators. BVG almost got him fired. Elko/Lea/Freeman are largely responsible for the recent run. If Freeman took a job somewhere else, the odds of him replacing someone like Freeman successfully were slim to none.

 

[RDU Irish]

Yep, if I had to bet we go to the playoff,... almost certainly against UGA while scUM gets UC......... Come on Iowa.

I could see them finding a way to get ND/Michigan and UGA/UC (or OKST) as the first matchup - hard to pass up.

 

[irish4ever]

Brett McMurphy's current bowl projection is ND vs Sparty in the Fiesta Bowl. That would be sweet (and oh so painful for Sparty).

IF no playoff game is in store, I'd like to see this match-up and have the Irish romp on Sparty!

 

[ACamp1900]

If no Playoff then give me Louisiana Lafayette,....


This weekend man, I wish I had three wishes... Houston, Iowa and Baylor all win... talk about chaos... we can have all kinds of fun what ifs with that one....

 

[RDU Irish]

If no Playoff then give me Louisiana Lafayette,....


This weekend man, I wish I had three wishes... Houston, Iowa and Baylor all win... talk about chaos... we can have all kinds of fun what ifs with that one....

As long as UGA wins I'm OK with this scenario. Don't want two SEC fooks.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

As long as UGA wins I'm OK with this scenario. Don't want two SEC fooks.

I feel like if UGA is the only favorite to win, 2 loss Bama is a lock. I think we need the favorites to win with one upset (UM, Okla St. preferable. I want Cincy again).

 

[Wild Bill]

Brett McMurphy's current bowl projection is ND vs Sparty in the Fiesta Bowl. That would be sweet (and oh so painful for Sparty).

Woof. That sounds like no upside potential with a slight possibiltiy of suffering an embarassing loss to sparty.

Last team I would want to play in the playoffs would be osu. They're not the best team but we just don't match up well with them, namely the secondary vs their receivers. At the fiesta bowl that may be different. I got a feeling a lot of their guys who are draft eligible will not play in a bowl game, including Wilson, Olave. They will have a few lineman on both sides of the ball that may or may not play and that will make it a bit easier on our oline. Dline will match up well with them no matter what.

I just don't see their receivers playing and without them they just aren't the same team. Freeman will have them jacked up to play his alma mater and a win against a depleted OSU is still a win against OSU. Would be way more entertaining than suffering through a game against MSU and thinking about how much tucker is getting paid to be mediocre.

 

[ACamp1900]

Woof. That sounds like no upside potential with a slight possibiltiy of suffering an embarassing loss to sparty.

Last team I would want to play in the playoffs would be osu. They're not the best team but we just don't match up well with them, namely the secondary vs their receivers. At the fiesta bowl that may be different. I got a feeling a lot of their guys who are draft eligible will not play in a bowl game, including Wilson, Olave. They will have a few lineman on both sides of the ball that may or may not play and that will make it a bit easier on our oline. Dline will match up well with them no matter what.

I just don't see their receivers playing and without them they just aren't the same team. Freeman will have them jacked up to play his alma mater and a win against a depleted OSU is still a win against OSU. Would be way more entertaining that suffering through a game against MSU and thinking about how much tucker is getting paid to be mediocre.

Two straight loses to tOSU incoming,.... thanks Bill.

 

[Wild Bill]

Two straight loses to tOSU incoming,.... thanks Bill.

Didn't even think about that but even more reason to play. Beat a depleted team and we have confidence going into columbus next year. Lose tothem and we have a chip on our shoulder going into the game.

This is a new era of optimism, camp. Gone are the days of picking us to lose by 40 in the prediction threads.

 

[ACamp1900]

This is a new era of optimism, camp. Gone are the days of picking us to lose by 40 in the prediction threads.

My new era: 50 point beatdowns is the best I can do.

 

[Wild Bill]

On his interview with Dan Patrick, he said he couldn't answer that question.

I took that to mean he wouldn't have left. You can't really say that if you're the LSU coach though, and I just don't see anyone passing that opportunity right now. I want to throw up when I think about Michigan has a legit shot at this thing from the 2 seed despite the fact that they are far the type of team that has won in the past. ND would be in a similar spot and you can't pass up that chance if you're 60 year old kelly.

 

[Wild Bill]

My new era: 50 point beatdowns is the best I can do.

Freeman time bro.

https://i.imgflip.com/5w86ui.jpg

 

[phork]

If Georgia beats Bama one of OK st, Michigan, or Cincy will lose.
I Like our chances. Lots of craziness happens when teams feel the pressure of win or go home.
Michigan,OK st, Cincinnati don't know what that feels like,
One or more of those teams will fold to that pressure.
Irish going to the dance if I was a betting man.

Michigan has a legit shot a winning it all. They are battled tested unlike the rest of those teams. Won in Madison, Lincoln and College Park and destroyed OSU. All the pressure is off them after slaying their dragon. Baylor could't run the ball against OkSt the first time they played, I don't think thats going to change. Cincy is our only hope as statiscally they match up with Houston, but schedule comparison shows Cincy much better. Hopefully the Fickel talk has everyone panicking and they lay an egg. I expect Alabama to lose.

Playing MichSt would be great if we could contain Walker (if he even plays). Their secondary is swiss cheese.

 

[Wild Bill]

Michigan has a legit shot a winning it all. They are battled tested unlike the rest of those teams. Won in Madison, Lincoln and College Park and destroyed OSU. All the pressure is off them after slaying their dragon. Baylor could't run the ball against OkSt the first time they played, I don't think thats going to change. Cincy is our only hope as statiscally they match up with Houston, but schedule comparison shows Cincy much better. Hopefully the Fickel talk has everyone panicking and they lay an egg. I expect Alabama to lose.

Playing MichSt would be great if we could contain Walker (if he even plays). Their secondary is swiss cheese.

And QB is still questionable, I believe. Baylor would be the best shot if he was playing but your logic about cincy makes sense.

 

[IrishLax]

Michigan has a legit shot a winning it all. They are battled tested unlike the rest of those teams. Won in Madison, Lincoln and College Park and destroyed OSU. All the pressure is off them after slaying their dragon. Baylor could't run the ball against OkSt the first time they played, I don't think thats going to change. Cincy is our only hope as statiscally they match up with Houston, but schedule comparison shows Cincy much better. Hopefully the Fickel talk has everyone panicking and they lay an egg. I expect Alabama to lose.

Playing MichSt would be great if we could contain Walker (if he even plays). Their secondary is swiss cheese.

MSU is a dream NY6 matchup if we miss the playoffs.

 

[irishog77]

Michigan has a legit shot a winning it all. They are battled tested unlike the rest of those teams. Won in Madison, Lincoln and College Park and destroyed OSU. All the pressure is off them after slaying their dragon. Baylor could't run the ball against OkSt the first time they played, I don't think thats going to change. Cincy is our only hope as statiscally they match up with Houston, but schedule comparison shows Cincy much better. Hopefully the Fickel talk has everyone panicking and they lay an egg. I expect Alabama to lose.

Playing MichSt would be great if we could contain Walker (if he even plays). Their secondary is swiss cheese.

I'm not sure the rest of the world thinks too much of this, particularly those last 2 teams and places.

 

[phork]

I'm not sure the rest of the world thinks too much of this, particularly those last 2 teams and places.

Whys that? PSUs qb was hurt most of the year and Franklin is an idiot. Nebraska lost 9 games by one score or less this year. Think 2012 ND without the luck.

 

[irishog77]

Whys that? PSUs qb was hurt most of the year and Franklin is an idiot. Nebraska lost 9 games by one score or less this year. Think 2012 ND without the luck.

First, I thought you meant College Park, MD. But even College Park, PA isn't that impressive. They're 7-5. Sure, Nebraska was in every game they played this year...but they still lost 9 games. I didn't watch much Nebraska football this year, but I'm guessing they lost 9 games because they really weren't very good, rather than because they were good, but simply unlucky.

Yes, ND was quite lucky in '12. But if they weren't lucky, they were staring down an 11-1 or 10-2 season, 9-3 at worst. Not 3-9. Kind of ridiculous to compare the '12 ND team to the '21 Nebraska team.

Next, it's still not that impressive to go on the road and beat an 8-4 team, a 3-9 team, and a 7-5 team. I don't think that makes them "battle tested." I think it means they took care of business, much like their respected records indicate.

Finally, michigan may be a really good team and be able to beat alabama and georgia. I doubt it though. And taking care of business in the big 10 isn't that big of a deal. Outside of the midwest, people still don't really respect the conference. It's not because they don't respect good football, it's because the big 10 isn't that good.

 

[NDRock]

Anyone but Bama / OSU

Bama loses and they go to the Sugar against the Big 12. OSU will go to the Rose against the PAC 12. We won’t face either.

 

[Irish2155]

If no Playoff then give me Louisiana Lafayette,....


This weekend man, I wish I had three wishes... Houston, Iowa and Baylor all win... talk about chaos... we can have all kinds of fun what ifs with that one....

We need chaos. But not that much. That scenario would keep Bama in and let’s stay away from that (KSU 2012).

 

[IHateMarkMay]

We need chaos. But not that much. That scenario would keep Bama in and let’s stay away from that (KSU 2012).

KSU wins the big 12 in '12 we win a Natty....

 

[dankgesang]

KSU wins the big 12 in '12 we win a Natty....

People always say this but I'm not sure what it's grounded in. FEI and SP both would have had us as 3 point dogs vs KSU that season.